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University of Pennsylvania, March 2nd, 1824. 

" Resolved — that ajcommittee be appointed to inve s- 
tigate thejexi^ng state of abuses in the Universi- 
ty, and to report whether any, and what measures 
are necessary to strengthen the discipline of the 
schools." 



The committee appointed in pursuance of the above resolu- 
tion respectfully report, 

•That immediately after their appointment, they entered 
upon the duties confided to them, and chiefly with a view to 
the first clause of the resolution, which refers to " the exist- 
ing state of abuses in the University:" they invited a con- 
ference with the gentlemen composing the Faculty in the 
Department of the Arts and Sciences* The Professor of 
languages was prevented by the state of his health from ac- 
cepting the invitation, but a full and unreserved interchange 
of sentiments took place with the Provost and the Vice Pro- 
vost. Complaints were made of a spirit of insubordination 
among the students, which had heretofore been active and 
violent, and though now considerably amended still partially 
existed. The evil was alleged to manifest itself in various 
ways; but particularly in offensive noises, and other marks 
of disrespect, resorted to by the classes, in the immediate 
presence of their respective professors. For the correction 







4 

of this abuse chiefly, the appeal to the Trustees had been 
made; it being supposed that extraordinary powers were re- 
quired to enable the insulted professor to detect the indi- 
viduals who committed the offence, and to enable the faculty 
at large to inflict the necessary punishment. Your commit- 
tee were impressed with the belief that improper acts done 
in the face of a professor might readily be traced to their 
authors by the professor himself; and that the mode of detec- 
tion suggested, was of such doubtful propriety, and its ope- 
ration calculated to produce such serious evils, that no ordi- 
nary emergency could justify its use. Your committee be- 
lieved also, that the scale of punishments provided by the 
statutes of the University, was sufficiently comprehensive, 
to afford the Faculty redress, without the necessity of an ap- 
peal to the Board of Trustees. The Professors themselves 
have control over every degree of correction short of dis- 
mission and expulsion. They may admonish in private or 
public, remove to a lower class, or suspend for a limited time 
from the college privileges. An exercise of authority thus 
extensive, necessarily carries with it a corresponding respon- 
sibility, and it is just that the responsibility and the power 
should remain with those who enjoy the best opportunities 
of knowing the proper occasions to incur the one, and enforce 
the other. A communication from the Provost, bearing date 
the 30th of April, has obviated the necessity of farther at- 
tention on the part of the committee, to this branch of the 
resolution, as they are requested to consider the proposal of 
a law withdrawn, and to report to the Board of Trustees, 
a wish that no resolution should be passed upon the subject. 
The committee did not consider that the duties enjoined 
upon them ceased with their relief from the investigation of 
a single part of the subject. They are also called upon " to 
report whether any, and what measures are necessary to 
strengthen the discipline of the schools," 



That a deficiency exists either in the system, or the admin- 
istration of the college discipline, is too obvious to be denied or 
doubted; an institution liberally, munificently endowed, pro- 
vided withmoraland physical sources of instruction, establish- 
ed in the midst of an intelligent population anxiously desirous 
to discover opportunities for educating its youth without seek- 
ing them abroad, languishes without a name, and gives in- 
struction to a number of pupils so limited, as scarcely to ex- 
ceed that of an ordinary grammar school. The result can scarce- 
ly be imputed either to defects in the general government of 
the University, or to objections to the place where it exists* 
Were other arguments wanting in support of this position, 
it might be proved by a comparison between the college of the 
arts, and the sister department of medicine: the one, a per- 
petual source of mortification and regret; the other, unrivalled 
in prosperity and reputation, an object of pride to the parent 
institution, and an ornament to the country by which it is 
sustained. Your committee believe that the evils are not 
incurable. They entertain no doubt that an ardent and ex- 
clusive devotion of the several professors to the duties of 
their honourable trusts, and an immoveable determination 
fearlessly and faithfully to discharge them, aided by such 
provisions as this Board has power to make, will redeem the 
credit of the college, and establish it upon a basis at once 
honourable to yourselves, beneficial to the faculty, and high- 
ly advantageous to the community. To facilitate the attain- 
ment of these desirable objects, the following alterations are 
proposed in the discipline and government of the department 
in question: 

1. To connect at least one additional grammar school with 
the University. While each of these establishments is placed 
under the general government of the institution, it may be 
proper that neither of them should be held in the same build- 
ing with the College of the Arts. 
The objects of this arrangement are, 



I . To increase the number of students in the college, as 
the pupils of the grammar schools will naturally be advanced 
into the lowest class, if the reputation of the college should 
justify it. 

Q. To adopt one extensive system of instruction prepara- 
tory to the course pursued in the college. 

II. The introduction of a fourth class. The present course 
of study might with advantage be enlarged, and general ex- 
perience and example indicate the utility of four instead of 
three classes. 

III. The confinement of the recitations in general to the 
morning, and the devotion of the whole of the morning to 
that object, and of the whole of the afternoon uninterrupted- 
ly to study and preparation. 

IV. An increase of the exercises in public speaking and 
composition. 

V. The appointment of an additional professor. 
This is to be effected, 

1. By introducing a President, with general powers of 
superintendence, and particular devotion to certain studies 
of the higher classes. Or, 

2. By introducing an Adjunct Professor of such sciences 
as require most attention and time. Or, 

3. By an independent Professorship of those sciences, leav- 
ing some of them under the care of the existing Professors. 

The compensation of this additional Professor may be 
provided for, 

U By dividing the fund among four Professors which is 
now appropriated to three. Or, 

2. By giving him a certain proportion of the money to be 
received from the students, without interfering with the pre- 
sent specifick salaries. Or, 

3. By creating a new and independent salary. 
The objects of this arrangement are, 

1st, And principally; to give new credit and reputation 



to the College, by the name and services of some gentleman 
of distinguished talents and erudition, and at the same time 
to give real strength to the Faculty. 

2ndly. To provide means of relief, by the substitution of 
one professor, when another is prevented from attending to 
his duties by absence or ill health. 

3dly, To introduce and encourage emulation among the 
members of the Faculty. 

The following resolutions are respectfully submitted. 

1. That a professorship of be instituted in the 
department of the Arts and Sciences. The professor of 

shall be a member of the Faculty of the Arts, and 
shall receive an annual compensation of dollars in 

lieu of all other emoluments, and a proper apartment shall 
be assigned to him by the Committee of Finance. 

2. That there shall be four classes of under graduates, 
viz. 

A Senior class. 

A Junior class. 

A Sophomore class. 

A Freshman class. 
And that the studies of each class shall continue for one 
collegiate year. 

3. That as soon as a professor of shall be ap- 
pointed, a Freshman class shall be formed, to consist of all 
such persons as upon examination by the Faculty shall be 
found to be possessed of those acquirements which, accord- 
ing to the existing statutes of the University are requisite 
for admission into the Sophomore class. 

4. That in the department of the Arts and Sciences, in- 
struction and recitation shall take place between the hours 
of eight in the morning and one in the afternoon, and that 
the time specified shall be devoted to the objects aforesaid. 

5. That a portion of each Monday morning be assigned 
to exercises in elocution and composition, including occa- 



028 334 676 6 

sional forensick dialogue — the students in the Senior and 
Junior classes to pronounce pieces written by themselves. 

6. That there shall be two grammar schools attached to 
the University, one shall be established north and the other 
south of High Street. They shall be subject to the same 
regulations as apply to the existing grammar school; — but 
neither of them shall be held within the building in Ninth 
Street, and the course of study pursued in both shall be 
uniform. 

All which is respectfully submitted. 

J. R. Ingersoll, 
Peter S. Du Ponceau, 
W. Rawle, 
Philip F. Mayer, 
Jos. B. M'Kean. 



